um·brel·la /ʌmˈbrɛlə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uhm-brel-uh] –noun

I have been wanting to start this documentation of collection project for a while. Seemed like after/during a big windy messy day was a good a time as any. On the way to Kanazawa, I began collecting evidence. Let's learn of our oft neglected and unappreciated friend.

1. a light, small, portable, usually circular cover for protection from rain or sun, consisting of a fabric held on a collapsible frame of thin ribs radiating from the top of a carrying stick or handle.

2. one of the top two most stolen or "borrowed" items in Japan, the other being bicycles.

3. as cheap as 100yen a pop

4. the most common variety is a conbini purchased clear vinyl model.

5. every umbrella I have ever bought or was given to me over the past 3 years has been stolen, with the exception of a tiny magenta one I don't know the origin of

6. in a more esoteric vein, umbrellas remind me of the status of older people in many societies. once their usefulness has expended, they are unceremoniously discarded and ignored

pictures to come...